Joe Biden said he hopes a ceasefire can be reached between Israel and Hamas by the end of the week.
The US President made these statements during an unannounced visit to the Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor, next to the 30 Rock store in New York, on Monday.
Flanked by late night TV host Seth Meyers, Mr. Biden Journalists asked when a ceasefire could begin in Gaza.
In a surprise turnaround, he said he hoped it would be done “by the end of the weekend.”
“My national security advisor (Jake Sullivan) told me that we are close, we are close, and we are not finished yet,” he said. “I hope we can reach a ceasefire by next Monday.”
Biden's comments come as Israel prepares to begin a military operation in Rafah He warned that there was no “credible” plan to protect civilians.
The US President made these statements during an unannounced visit to Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor in New York. Photo: AP
Israel said it would press ahead with its attack on the city if the hostages were not returned by March 10, the start of Ramadan.
According to NBC News, Sky News' US partner network, Qatar is mediating talks between Israel and Hamas this week, and ceasefire negotiations have taken place between US, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials in Paris.
If this happens, it will be the second ceasefire after the ceasefire reached in November which saw the release of several hundred Palestinians from Israeli prisons and the release of about 100 hostages by Israel. agitation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said earlier on Monday that the Israel Defense Forces had proposed a plan to evacuate civilians from “combat zones” to the country's war cabinet.
